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Near the fork of the branch, where the oldest tree grows, could be something below.

Poster of Arlington Bluff Association
Dated 1873

[Ed-RSS]: The original poster has the map shown above and two columns of text under it.  The text switches from the left side to the right side mid-sentence.  The change is noted below in the text (7th paragraph).

From Cleve Powell This may be the origin of the name of the Arlington Community.

This poster is shown on pg. 245 of Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage by Wayne Wood. It shows a map of the Arlington Bluff Subdivision (Clifton area) with the following information on each side of the map.

The text: (on left side of map)

The association having been duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida is prepared to furnish pleasant Winter Residence without the inconvenience undesirable associations and cost of hotel life.

The tract of land owned by the association known as Arlington Bluff is beautifully located on the elevated point at the mouth of the Arlington River on the East side of the St. Johns River about two and a half miles below Jacksonville, the most important commercial town in Florida. It has a considerable frontage on both rivers. The elevation of the grounds being from fifteen to twenty feet above the SaintXJohns affords a fine water view while the river furnishes good facilities for sailing and fishing.

This delightful spot shaded by the stately live oak, Magnolia, pine and other forest trees, draped with Southern moss. And within a short drive or sail of a fine sulfer spring has been laid out with avenues seventy feet in width and cottage lots one hundred feet square and one hundred and seventy by seventy. The association is prepared to offer lots of any desired dimension. A portion of the streets have been set apart for parks, camp meetings, Church, etc.

The lots will be leased for 99 years subject to renewal without additional charge. This plan has been adopted instead of selling in order to prevent any - listing his lot and assurance to other lot holders. The association by its constitution has adopted "each legal residence will forever secure to the lands of the association a religious and moral community".

Daily religious services will be held throughout the season. It is intended to make this a place where Christian people of all denominations will find pleasant and profitable companionship and a quite winter home.

There is no doubt that this delightful spot will become a great winter resort for the thousands who seek to escape the rigors of a northern and western winter. It will naturally bring together a very desirable community of moral and religious people.

A certain portion of the profits from (goes to right side of plat) the sale of lots will be devoted to the support of a school already established in Jacksonville called the "Cookman Institute" (photo) the especial object of which is the education of colored teachers and others.

The price of lots for the present is one hundred dollars and upward according to size shade and location. The lots are large enough for a cottage (which can be built at considerably lest cost then at similar places north) as well as for the cultivation of flowers, vegetables and few oranges, figs and other fruit trees.

The terms of payment are one forth cash the balance to be made in sixty and ninety days.

A number of lots have been taken and cottages erected. The boarding house is conducted on the European plan where good board and the comfort of a Christian home are furnished at the cost of ten or fifteen dollars a week. The steam ferry boat "Clifton" owned by the association makes four trips each way daily (Sundays excepted) between Jacksonville and Arlington Bluff.

Arrangements are being made for the erection of a large hotel and also for supplying patrons occupying cottages with provisions of all kinds - fresh meats, fish, etc. at prices as about as low as at the North. Arrangements have been made for a considerable reduction from regular rates from and to the North.

For the accommodation of those who may desire it, The association will contract for the erection of cottages, the supply of lumber, brick, building materials of every description. The laying out of grounds, furnishing and planting orange trees, (having a nursery of them on their property).

The capitol stock of the Association is fixed at $50,000 in shares of $100 each which bears interest (according to the laws of Florida) of 8% per annum, payable in script redeemable at the discretion of the Board of Directors or redeemable in payment of lots purchased.

A limited number of shares can be obtained by addressing the officers or general agent.

Maps of the ground, circulars, copies of the Charter, and any further information may be obtained by applying to George McCord, General Agent, No. 9 Astor house, Broadway, New York or 70 Downing Street, Brooklyn.

---

The preceding text is labelled "C L I F T O N" and gives a very brief history of the Francois Richard and his mill and Strawberry Hill Plantation followed with his son hiring John Sammis to run the operation in 1837 and buying 6,000 acres of Richard's estate a few years later.

It then quotes an ad by Sammis putting the land up for sale in 1860 describing it as 8,000 acres on the St. Johns River on both sides of Pottsburg Creek. A saw mill, cotton gin and sugar mill, all water powered: a brickyard (much of Jacksonville' downtown was built with these brick) 600-700 acres cleared, adaptable for sea island cotton: portion of rice land recently worked, dams and dyke good: summer and winter range for cattle and sheep: fish galore: Large dwelling house and other houses. Hydraulic ram supplies water to the dwelling house. Large vegetable and fruit gardens; figs, grapes etc., all watered by the ram: Large mineral spring, with a large bathhouse like Suwanee Springs.

The article says the sale was postponed by the Civil War and was purchased on 1873 by the Ocean Grove Association, a New Jersey religious group. They made the former Sammis house into a hotel and divided part of the property into lots to be leased calling the colony "The Florida Winter Home," which was short lived due to its exclusiveness.

William Matthews, a Philadelphia businessman who had financed part of the venture acquired most of the property and formed the "Arlington Bluff Association". It goes on to say that in 1880 the Matthews started spending their winters in the old Sammis home and raising oranges loading them on a steamship from the long dock in front of their home. The freeze of 1895 wiped out most of the grove.

The article then mentions the "Clifton" cemetery and some of its occupants, which it says were people associated with the Florida Winter home and the Sammis and Baxter families.

An 1856 Navigation chart of the St. Johns River shows the creek as "Pottsburg" Creek. It also shows two houses where the Sammis house is located and a clearing along Pottsburg Creek.

The history of Arlington seems to at least in part stem from these people and in particular the name "Arlington." The 1860 ad describes the land as being on the St. Johns River either side of "Pottsburg Creek" (named for a former English land owner Samuel Potts).

Then the 1873 poster shows the land as being on the "Arlington" River, which is a.k.a. Pottsburg Creek. This doesn't mean that the name Arlington started here but there is a good chance that somewhere between 1860 and 1873 Pottsburg Creek also became known as the Arlington River.

Also of interest is the description of the land for sale in 1860; it states there were 600-700 acres of cleared land, exactly where was that? Also rice fields. The Mill I am positive of was where Arlington Road crosses Strawberry Creek. The Brickyard, I was told many years ago that there was a brickyard adjacent to Christ the King Church on the west side of Arlington Road north of the creek. There also was one I think on Silversmith Creek. The mineral spring is also fascinating. Was that the one walled in near Bryant Mickler's home (behind Christ the King church)? It also seems to confirm that the name Clifton came from the name of the launch.

A plat of Arlington Bluff is on record in the "Current Public Records of Duval County" in Plat Book 3, Page 44 filed 6-29-1909. The subdivision was previously recorded in DB x pg. 323. Dtd? When Jacksonville burned May 3, 1901 a lot of the public records were lost and later re-recorded. Arlington Heights was recorded in PB 4 page 19 in 1911, which runs from University east along Arlington Road to Rogero. However in the Eggleston addition plat filed in 1891 there are indications that Arlington Heights was already platted. Also in the deed to Howlands. DB 88, Pg. 676 It indicates that the area (from Rogero to Townsend) platted as Alderman Farms PB 5, Pg 99 in 1913 was previously platted as Arlington Farms but probably not recorded. This may be true of the Arlington Heights addition (from University to the River) also recorded in 1913 in PB 5 pg. 83.

The 1873 Poster doesn't show a bridge across the "Arlington" River or any signs of University Boulevard, formerly Chaseville Road. The bridge (Grove Ave.) and Pine Street are shown as "county roads" on the 1909 plat.

[Ed-RSS]: What additional comments should go with this document?

From Cleve Powell The "Mineral Spring" could well have been an artesian well with sulfer water.

For More Reading: "Cookman Institute" Information
"Cookman Institute" photo

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